28 March 2024

Northeast Kenya Antelope Survey

Northeast Kenya is the most poorly known region in eastern Africa as concerns the taxonomy, distribution, abundance, threats, and conservation status of its larger mammal fauna. Nonetheless, this region has a high number of endemic and threatened genera and species. Among the larger mammals, 15 species of antelope are known to occur. Diurnal surveys, nocturnal surveys, and camera trap surveys were conducted to cover as much of northeast Kenya (130,000 km²) as possible in four fieldtrips (total of 48 days, total distance driven 7,163 km). The objectives of the Northeast Kenya Antelope Survey were to: (1) considerably improve our understanding of their taxonomic status, distribution, relative abundance, and threats to the region’s species of antelope; (2) contribute to the reassessments of their IUCN Red List degree of threat status; (3) provide practical, prioritized, recommendations for ameliorating the threats; and (4) bring local, national, and international attention to the unique biodiversity of northeast Kenya, using antelopes as a flagship group.

During this survey, antelope species were nowhere common outside of protected areas. Ten of the 15 antelope species of northeast Kenya were encountered. The most frequently species encountered was Kirk’s Dik-Dik Madoqua (kirkii) kirkii, followed by Southern Gerenuk Litocranius walleri walleri and Bright’s Gazelle Nanger notata. The least common were Common Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus ellipsiprymnus and Greater Kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros. The five species not encountered (Common Eland Tragelaphus oryx, Salt’s Dik-Dik Madoqua saltiana, Common Duiker Sylvicapra grimmia, Peter’s Gazelle Nanger petersii, Coke’s Hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus cokii) have geographic ranges that are on the margins of this region.

Read the full summary and report here Butynski&DeJong_2024_Northeast_Kenya_Antelope_Survey_20March2024_final
We thank the Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations (ZGAP) for funding the Northeast Kenya Antelope Survey

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WildSolutions

I am a Kenya-based Dutch primatologist who has worked in Africa since 2001. I am the co-leader of the Eastern Africa Primate Diversity and Conservation Program, member of four IUCN/SSC Specialist Groups (Primates, Antelopes Afrotheria and Wild Pigs), member of the Nocturnal Primate Research Group at Oxford Brookes University, collaborating Scientist of the National Museums of Kenya and Institute of Primate Research in Nairobi and member of the Primate Task Force of the Kenya Wildlife Service. My main research focus is the biogeography, diversity and conservation of eastern Africa’s primates and several other groups of large mammals, including antelopes and warthogs. Read my publications, blogs and news items on wildsolutions.nl, Researchgate  and iNaturalist.

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